Exploring the Tin Coast

Location: Botallack, Tin Coast near St Just, Cornwall
Meeting Place: Botallack Count House
Date & Time: Monday, 29 April 2019, 12:00pm to 2:00pm 
Fieldtrip Leader: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
Mobile Number: 07711105485
Email Address: [email protected]

Photographer: Rowena Castillo Nicholls
​Videographer: Rob Nicholls

Facilities:
Ample car parking with specific accessible parking places. Picnic area and blanket available to borrow from the café. Café for refreshment. Disable Access. Toilet.

I lead a walk today in Botallack today to explore the Tin Coast for our organisation, Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) Cornwall. The Tin Coast is Cornwall's oldest new destination. It's a cultural landscape of World Heritage site status, it is a place defined by Cornish mining, part of the Cornish Mining World Heritage Site. In 2006 Botallack was given World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. The mine is within the Aire Point to Carrick Du Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the South West Coast Path passes along the cliff.

The 1970s BBC television series Poldark was filmed partly in Botallack, using Manor Farm as Nampara. More recently, filming for the new Poldark series also took place here. The West Wheal Owles pumping engine house is used for filming both Wheal Grace and Wheal Leisure in the BBC's new Poldark series. There was a real mine called Wheal Leisure at Perranporth where Winston Graham lived.

We had a fantastic and fabulous time exploring the tin coast. The rain and wind did not stop us from having an amazing time. We all had a brilliant time. Great company. Interesting conversation. And we were greeted by 2 Cornish Choughs when we were walking towards the coastal path and 4 more Cornish Choughs flying from the headland. That really made our day. We also saw loads of other species: Fulmars, Gannets, Swallows, Kestrel and a lot more... Rain or shine, we all had an enjoyable and fun-filled day. 

Exploring the Tin Coast

The spectacular Crowns Engine House on our backdrop

Going down to the Crowns Engine Houses

At the Crowns Engine Houses

Stopping for more photo opts

More photo opts during the walk

At the entrance of the Arsenic Labyrinth at Botallack Mine where the arsenic would have been scraped from the enclosed tunnels and packed into barrels.

The West Wheal Owles pumping engine house is used for filming both Wheal Grace and Wheal Leisure in the BBC's new Poldark series. ​​

The iconic and enigmatic Cornish Choughs near the Crowns Engine Houses

The iconic and enigmatic Cornish Choughs flying around the chimney

The iconic and enigmatic Cornish Choughs posing for photo opts

Spectacular and picturesque view

The Crowns Engine Houses

The two engine houses of the Crowns Engine Shaft and Boscawen Diagonal Shaft

Entrance to the Arsenic Labyrinth at Botallack Mine where the arsenic would have been scraped from the enclosed tunnels and packed into barrels.

The Arsenic Labyrinth

 The engine houses of West Wheal Owles and Wheal Edward

The West Wheal Owles pumping engine house is used for filming both Wheal Grace and Wheal Leisure in the BBC's new Poldark series. ​​

The engine house of Wheal Edward

Need to treat ourselves after that brilliant walk on the Tin Coast. Ribeye Steaks with prawn and lobster sauce for me and Rob had his all time favourite Fish and Chips. Vanilla and Blackcurrant Cheesecake for me and Rob had a Chocolate Brownie. Hmmm delicious!